Dodgers News: Struggling Trayce Thompson Trying to Stay Positive Through Rough Stretch
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Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson has had quite the rocky MLB career thus far.
After being in and out of the league from 2015 to 2021, the Dodgers took a chance on him in the middle of the 2022 season. They acquired him for cash considerations, after Mookie Betts went on the injured list with a cracked rib, and it paid instant dividens.
Thompson made the most of that opportunity, bursting onto the scene with one home run after another, even earning himself consistent playing time in the regular season and postseason. Entering 2023, he finally had some security on an MLB roster, especially with the departure of Cody Bellinger.
Then, in his first game of the season, he belted three home runs against the Diamondbacks, trying to prove that last season was no fluke. But since then, he's struggled to prove that.
Since his three-home run 2023 debut, Thompson is just 4-for-50 with one home run, three RBIs and 28 strikeouts. He hasn't been able to hit lefties — something that plagued him a year ago — and hasn't been very good against righties, either.
He's not only playing himself out of consistent playing time, he may be playing himself off the roster entirely. However, for Thompson, these struggles are nothing new.
He's dealt with more than enough distress in his MLB career, and he recently told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register that he's just trying to stay positive through this difficult stretch.
"You just try to stay positive and know that, the fact of the matter is, it’s a long season. You have to really take that to heart," Thompson said. "It’s coming. I know it is. I feel like you can be two ways about it. You can be pouty about it – 'Woe is me.' Or you can be, 'You know what? I’m due.' I feel like I have to choose the latter. I’ve served my time. Now it’s time to get hot."
Thompson being due would be great news for the Dodgers, who are lacking a solid outfield option against left-handed pitching. But over the last year or so, he's proven that he just cannot hit lefties.
If he can start hitting southpaws, and if his time does come, he'll be able to stick around on this roster for a longer stay. However, if last year was more of the fluke, and Thompson has finally come back down to earth, his time with the Dodgers could end sooner rather than later.
